10 surprising things you can buy with bitcoins

You can register a domain name, pay for web-hosting services with and sign up for an online dating service with bitcoins, the country-less currency that’s soared in value this year. But the market for the virtual currency is going mainstream. They’ve reportedly been used to buy a Tesla Model S in California, and you can even buy a pair of Alpaca socks. The socks, from Grass Hill Alpacas (left) are 78% pure Alpaca, 20% nylon and 2% Lycra. At $20 a pair, you could buy more than 50 pairs with a single bitcoin, currently trading around $1,025. Here are more things you can buy with bitcoins. — Quentin Fottrell

Somethinggeeky.com

Slide 2 of 11

Angry Birds Star Wars Jedi Master men’s T-shirt

It’s probably not unlikely that there will be overlap between bitcoin users and Star Wars fanatics. With that in mind, SomthingGeeky.com is selling a T-shirt with a cute alien that looks like the offspring of an Angry Bird and Yoda. They cost about £18 ($30) each. The site also sells hoodies, sweatshirts, pajamas and mugs emblazed with everything from Doctor Who to Star Trek.

NiceNiceApartment.com

Slide 3 of 11

An apartment in Nice

This vacation apartment in Nice, France rents for €200 ($273) a night. It’s 120 square meters and has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a private terrace. Recently renovated, it’s located in the quiet residential neighborhood of Cimiez and is close to the Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse museums. Smoking and pets are not welcome. Bitcoin, however, is happily accepted. If Nice isn’t your style, there also are vacation homes in Croatia and a hostel in San Francisco.

StatelessSweets.com

Slide 4 of 11

Candy

These orange dark chocolates have a lot in common with bitcoin. They come courtesy of the sweet-toothed Agorist movement, a libertarian social philosophy that advocates the voluntary exchange of goods and services without the state’s obstruction. Available from the aptly titled website StatelessSweets.com, these and other items can be purchased with bitcoins — including diabetic-friendly and gluten-free treats, hard candy and fudge. Six Sriracha lollipops will cost $4.

Aspireauctions.com

Slide 5 of 11

A Tiffany vase

It will take an entire bitcoin — and then some — to purchase one of these antique collectibles from Aspire Auctions. On the block in December are a Tiffany vase, a papyrus page from The Book of the Dead, a Swiss burl wood cylinder music box with nine bells — all of which will set you back at least one bitcoin. For other antiques and artwork, and even a 1955 Chevrolet 210 Hardtop, go to AspireAuctions.com.

Shutterstock.com

Slide 6 of 11

Barbecue

If you happen to be in Salt Lake City and you’ve got a hankering for barbecue, your bitcoins are welcome at the Firehouse BBQ Grill. They also do catering. That’s a lot of pulled pork.

survivalcampingstore.com

Slide 7 of 11

Survival gear

If you go down to the woods today (or tomorrow) and you’re expecting trouble, it might be worth biting off a bit of your virtual bitcoin for some survival camping gear like the “Bear Grylls” hatchet ($49) compact parang ($30) and folding knife ($27). They’re all currently on sale at a discount from SurvivalCampingStore.com. If matches are beneath you, try the Bear Grylls fire starter ($14), which can warm food and purify water. At left, a Bear Grylls hatchet from Survival Camping Store

KeystonePetPlace.com

Slide 8 of 11

Horse treats

Pet odor exterminator candles? They’re $10 from Keystone Pet Place., another online retailer that accepts the invisible coinage. Stud Muffin horse treats, left, ($12) and other supplies for pets, livestock and wildlife are all available for a slight chomp of one bitcoin.

legacyofkashmir.com/

Slide 9 of 11

Saffron

LegacyofKashmir.com , a company based in the U.K. and Kashmir in Northern India, sells saffron hand-harvested by local farmers. A five -gram container of saffron spice costs £22 ($36), but the company says the saffron is harvested only at certain times of the day to ensure the highest quality. Why does it support bitcoin? “A decentralized currency that belongs to the people and not the elite,” according to the website.

framethetv.com

Slide 10 of 11

Frame for a flat-screen TV

This Austin, Texas-based company makes custom hardwood frames to camouflage flat screen, wall-mounted televisions as pictures — or as close as to pictures as they can get. Framethetv.com charges $500 for a smaller TV to around $1,600 for 90-inch television sets, depending on the type of frame. The company claims that installation of the frame usually takes under a minute, but the company advises enlisting the help of a friend.

framethetv.com

Slide 11 of 11

Frame for a flat-screen TV

This Austin, Texas-based company makes custom hardwood frames to camouflage flat screen, wall-mounted televisions as pictures — or as close as to pictures as they can get. Framethetv.com charges $500 for a smaller TV to around $1,600 for 90-inch television sets, depending on the type of frame. The company claims that installation of the frame usually takes under a minute, but the company advises enlisting the help of a friend.

Mortgage Rates

Powered by

This advertisement is provided by Bankrate, which compiles rate data from more than 4,800 financial institutions. Bankrate is paid by financial institutions whenever users click on display advertisements or on rate table listings enhanced with features like logos, navigation links, and toll free numbers. Dow Jones receives a share of these revenues when users click on a paid placement.

Intraday Data provided by SIX Financial Information and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by SIX Financial Information. All quotes are in local exchange time. Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only. Intraday data delayed at least 15 minutes or per exchange requirements.